Kent Hughes is currently trying to sign a highly coveted player
There are different ways to improve a hockey team and obviously the Kent Hughes/Jeff Gorton duo will try different approaches.
They want to sign a star player (or two) through NHL free agents in July, according to Pierre LeBrun. They want to try to move at the draft to have the best players possible, and also, they are ready to make big trades.
I love that.
There is also another method, often overlooked: the signing of European free agents. Different teams have acquired strong, interesting players that way.
We obviously think of Artemi Panarin, but there are also players like Dominik Kubalik and Evgeny Dadonov.
Chris Johnston, of TSN, mentioned that the Montreal Canadiens are indeed in the race to sign a free agent. A russian, who has never played in the NHL.
We're talking about: Andrei Kuzmenko, who is generating a lot of interest in the NHL right now.
The 26-year-old forward, from SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, is currently the top free agent outside of the NHL. In 45 games this season, he leads his team in scoring, with 53 points, including 20 goals.
Would you like that signing? Could the sad conflict in Ukraine complicate this acquisition? It's hard to say at this point, but expect Kuzmenko to eventually cross the ocean, trying to establish himself as an NHL player.
